Even though it is much easier to shop without kids - in fact, as I remember it, there was one Mother's Day that I went grocery shopping alone and thought that that by itself was kind of a nice mother's day gift - I have fond memories of grocery shopping with them. It's not just the kind elderly people making a fuss over them as babies and little toddlers. It's the extra challenges of shopping with them - mundane as it is - that are memorable to me.
With Julia, I remember when she was too big a baby to sit in those infant seat things they attach to carts, but not strong enough to sit up by herself. I'd try to shop with her in a Baby Bjorn and have to reach and pick up and put down everything from the side to avoid her flappy arms in front of me. . . . A few times when they fell asleep on the way to the grocery store, I put them in the stroller and tried to use that as my cart and the canvas bags I had brought as additional storage to carry items around. Always wondered if someone thought I was trying to steal stuff by putting items directly into the bags. . . . When Wes was in his early toddlerhood, he insisted on eating many of the things for purchase - I'd have fun reporting to Wayne the list of things Wes had eaten while shopping - animal crackers, a cheese stick, fruit snacks and a Danimals Yogurt - all in one outing! Now he enough self-control to wait until we get home, but I still have to negotiate what I buy with him and I come home with more Oreos than I would otherwise.
If I shop with both Julia and Wes now, they like to hang off on either side and pretend to be garbage men throwing the food into the cart. I get yelled at if I put an item directly into the cart.
Anyways, with Julia in school, Wes is my main shopping partner nowadays. He's usually a very active participant, down to putting items onto the belt and bagging. But today he was dead tired and slept through my transfer of him into the cart, throughout the entire shopping trip, and even after being put back into his carseat. I didn't get to use my reusable bags because the bag of canvas bags I brought in turned out to be his resting pillow. The nice cashier was taken with sleeping Wes and gave me my 50 cent discount on the bags anyway.
May 31, 2013
October 27, 2012
Kids say the darndest things
I explained to Wes today that he and Wayne were going to drop Julia off at a birthday party tomorrow because it was a party only for girls. He responded, "Remember at Julia's birthday, it was only for girls AND boys, girls AND boys . . . no bad guys, right?" Yes, Julia's party was exclusive like that.
June 25, 2012
Julia's 1st Piano Recital
I meant to post this video back in February, when Julia had her first piano concert. It was a good experience for her and since then, I think she likes learning piano more. Although I have never read "Tiger Mom," I've read articles and heard interviews about it. I've thought about it often while helping Julia practice piano this past year and a half since she started taking lessons. Whether it is a good or bad book, I do not know, but I do appreciate thinking about our reasons for pushing or not pushing our kids. With piano, it started with just exposure to music. And it's become about valuing practice and learning how to practice and developing patience to practice. Six months ago, I was about ready to have her quit. How long she continues will depend on her own passions, but for now, piano has developed into a nice bonding time for us. How long will that last?
Wes Boogie
Our guy likes to dance. I think it looks like Tai Chi meets Aerobics, or something like that. For his 3rd birthday, we got him a kid-friendly (no earphones required) and adult-friendly (volume control is hidden from kid) mp3 player. He's holding it (the blue thing) at the end of this "reel."
November 07, 2011
Conversations Around a Pumpkin
We've been snacking on the yummy pumpkin seeds Wayne roasted. He had help gathering the seeds from his two little talkative helpers.
September 13, 2011
June 23, 2011
Kindergarten Done


Julia doesn't look that different from her first day of school. And I don't think that she is much different. Of course, she knows more now than before. She's learned to read (both words and musical notes) and to dribble a ball (both soccer and basketball). She knows about worksheets, homework and school socials (without parent accompaniment). But her temperament, personality and interests have not changed that much. She's still a combination of shy, serious and goofy, silly. She's still really into arts and crafts and not as interested in computer or video games. I think this could be her forever - it is amazing how formed we already are when we come into this world - but I know there are friends, teachers and events that come or happen and change you from time to time in your life. I'm curious what it will be when it happens and I hope I remember and find the time to consider who she is becoming and why.
Some of my favorite discussions with Julia this past kindergarten year have been about her Night Time School. Her made-up universe that often parallels her real daytime school. It explains why she's tired in the morning. It explains why I'm wrong (her night time school teacher is smarter than me). She's talked about this convincingly enough that a few parents have asked me whether Julia really goes to a night time school. She learns all about the planets and stars there. She learns baby language there as babies also attend night time school. She's been on the fake cell phone planning play dates and sleepovers and has even been heard gossiping about others! After the Japan tragedy earlier this year, she cried about one of her classmates who she said lives in Japan and has not been back to school. I'm really glad she goes to Night Time School. She already graduated from nighttime kindergarten a couple of weeks ago as she had finished all her worksheets without writing any numbers or letters backwards (unlike daytime kindergarten). So two kindergartens done, looking forward to first grade!
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